William Henry McCarty Jr. was born on November 23, 1859. He also went by the name William H. Bonny and when he was killed July 14, 1881 he had become the legendary Billy the Kid.Legends say he killed twenty-one men - one for each year of his life. But the truth is closer to 4-9 men who died by The Kid's hand. He was 5'8" tall with blue eyes, a good complexion, and prominent front teeth. He had a charm that drew in unsuspecting people who helped hide him and believed him a hero rather than the bad boy that he was.
But Billy didn't become a real legend until 1881 when the New Mexico governor place a price on his head. Dead or alive. And it was the sheriff of Lincoln County New Mexico, Pat F. Garrett who hunted down and killed Billy the Kid.
I have some trivia about Billy below. Tell me which are true and which are false and you'll be in the drawing for a book titled: The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid by Pat F. Garrett copyright 1959.
1. The Kid was "adept at cards" at the age of eight or nine.
2. He killed three Apaches near Fort Bowie.
3. Billy won a horse race near San Simon.
4.The rescue of a wagon train by the Kid and Jesse Evans.
